DİYARBAKIR
Area: 15.355 km²
Population: 1.094.996 (1990)
Traffic Code: 21
Diyarbakır is a city that must be seen with
its long ramparts , Malabadi bridge and it's
typical architecture of wide floored houses to
reduce the effects of the heat since the
temperature reaches to 40 - 50 thermometer
during certain days of the summer months.
Districts: Diyarbakır (center), Bismil, Çermik,
Çınar, Çüngüş, Dicle, Eğil, Ergani, Hani,
Hazro, Kocaköy, Kulp, Lice, Silvan.
How to Get
Highway : Voyages from Diyarbakır to almost
every region of Turkey is possible by coach
transportation. Coach station placed at city
center. Travelers transported to city center
by minibuses.
Coach Station Tel: (+90-412) 221 10 27
Airway : Airport is 3 kilometer from city
center. There are regular flights to Ankara
and Istanbul.
Airport Tel: (+90-412) 228 84 01 - 228 84 02
Where to Visit
MUSEUMS
Archeology Museum: First museum of Diyarbakır
opened at the year of 1934 in the Senceriye (Zinciriye)
Theology school, an extension of Ulu Mosque.
In 1985 it is transported to a new building on
Elazığ Avenue. Traces remaining from Neolithic
Age, Old Bronze Age, Urartu, Asurian, Roman,
Byzantine, Seljuk, Akkoyunlu and Ottoman
periods have been exhibited with a
chronological order. Coins, local materials,
ethnographic works of art, the majority of
which remained from Artuklu period have also
been exhibited in the museum.
Museum Tel:(+90-412) 221 27 55
Ziya Gökalp Museum - House: One of the samples
of typical civil architecture of Diyarbakır,
this house was built in 1808. This house where
the famous intellectual Ziya Gökalp was born
in the year of 1876, was bought from his
inheritors in 1953, and opened to visit at the
date of March,23 1956 as a museum - house.
Beside the items belonging to the poet,
ethnographic works of art of the region are
exhibited at the museum.
Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum - House (Culture
Museum): Building that is at the Diyarbakır
city center, in Cami-i Kebir quarter, on Cahit
Sıtkı Tarancı street, is dated to 1820.One of
the most beautiful sample of typical civil
architecture of Diyarbakır, it havesurvived to
our present day.
Museum Tel : (+90-412) 223 08 02
RAMPARTS AND RUINS
Diyarbakır Ramparts: These Diyarbakır ramparts
famous for being the longest second rampart
after the great wall of China, are 5.5 km long
and 7 - 8 m high. Black Basalt Ramparts
composed of 16 castles and 5 main gates are
the most attractive places of the city.
Magnificent sample of mediaeval military
architecture, these ramparts were decorated
with inscriptions and embossments.
Ramparts restored by Byzantine Emperor
Costantinus in 349 B.C. But the exact date of
their construction is not knowned.
Çayönü Ruins: On Elazığ highway, 65 km north
west of Diyarbakır, in Ergani county, Çayönü
antique city is dating back to the Neolithic
Age that is its long history reaches back to
9000 years ago. It is estimated that this
place of settlement is one of the first
permanent settlement places. Findings that
have been brought into light around the
primitive settlement place of Çayönü, grind
stones, flint stones, various items made from
bone and clay are exhibited at Diyarbakır
Archeology Museum.
BRIDGES
Malabadi Bridge: It is near the Silvan county
on the Batman brook. Among the stone ramparts
in the world, it is the one with the widest
arch.
RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS
Mosques and Churches
Magnificent with their historical and
architectural properties, Nebi Mosque and Safa
Mosque are the most famous mosques of
Diyarbakır. Ulu Mosque built by Sultanı Melik
Shah of Seljuks, displays an interesting
outlook with its original design and usage of
either Byzantine or older architectural
materials and is one of the oldest mosques of
Turkey.
77 km east to Diyarbakır, in Silvan county and
built in 1185 Ulu Mosque is worth seeing with
its well - bred embossments decorated on gate
arches.
Diyarbakır Mosques and Churches
Ulu Mosque (Center): It is known as fifth
Harem-i Şerif in Islamic world. After the
conquest of Diyarbakır by Islamic armies, the
biggest Christian temple of the city, Mar-Tama
church had been converted into a mosque in
639. It was repaired in 1091 during Great
Seljuk Sultan, Melikşah period. The mosque
which was repaired with the aids of the public
in 1240, after it had been greatly demolished
due to the earthquake and fire, . This initial
Islamic structure, which has a great value in
connection with inscriptions of various
periods and şadırvans on its courtyard, was
constructed with black stones.
Anatolian oldest mosque, Ulu Mosque, still
draws attention today as a monumental
structures group with surrounding two theology
schools and other structures. In connection
with its plan, it is similar to the Ummiye and
Emevi mosques, constructed between 705 and
715.
Behram Paşa Mosque (Center): Mosque
constructed by 13th Ottoman Governor Behram
Paşa, is one of the most beautiful samples of
the Ottoman architecture. Embroidered balcony
of the mosque is a master pieces of art.
Şeyh Matar Mosque (Center): Four feet minaret
and mosque, is an Akkoyunlu piece of art, and
is constructed in 1500 by Sultan Kasım.
Minaret was located on a single piece column
as four edged. Usage of kiln - dried wood on
the columns is also a characteristic of the
minaret. According to a belief the wishes of a
person who passes between the columns for
seven times will be accepted.
Safa Mosque (Center): Mosque, which is
constructed on 1532, is an Akkoyunlu piece of
art. Its minaret, which is rumored that
preserved within a cover, is very elegant.
Meryem Ana (Mother Mary) Church (Center): It
is remaining from VIth century, and repaired
for several times in the course of time. Its
niche, remaining from Bizantium period, Roman
shaped door is drawing attention. There are
mausoleums of some saints within the church.
Church, which belongs to Süryani Kadim Yakubi
sect, has descriptions of some saints.
Among the most important churches of
Diyarbakır, Mart Thoma, Meryem Ana (the Virgin
Mary Church), Kırklar Church and Mart Pityon
Church can be mentioned. Meryem Ana Church
(the Virgin Mary Church), still been used by a
few Süryani (Christian) community in the city.
BAZAARS, INNS AND CARAVANSERAİS
Diyarbakır has important inns because of its
being one of the center of the Historical Silk
Road. Inside the Deliller Inn, Hasan Pasha,
Çiftehan and Yeni Inn, there are shopping
stores that are selling rugs, carpets and
silver embroidery as it was usual in history.
Caravanserai: Caravanserai that is worth
seeing with its architecture and interior
structure, today restored and formed as hotel.
THERMAL RESORTS
Çermik Thermal Tourism Center
Location: Just outside Cermik, around 90km
west of Diyarbakir in South Eastern Anatolia.
Water temperature: 48°C
pH value: 6.3
Physical and chemical properties: Bicarbonate,
chlorine, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide
and mildly radioactive.
Recommended: Applications Drinking and bathing
Helps to heal: Rheumatism, skin and
respiratory conditions, gynaecological
disorders, joint pain and calcium build-up.
Accommodation: Hotel with 100 beds.
Geography
Rough and dry terrestrial climate is domiant
in Diyarbakır province.
History
While the history of Diyarbakır is estimated
to be dated back to 3000 BC., recent
excavations and researches carried out at
Çayönü have revealed that civilization history
in Diyarbakır can be traced to 7500 BC.
Hurrian and Mitanni Kingdoms, Hittite,
Assyrian, Meds, Persians, Great Alexander,
Romans, Byzantine, Arabians, Seljuk and
Ottomans dominated in Diyarbakır and its
environs.
Where to Eat
Especially famous for its Water Melon of
enourmous sizes , Diyarbakır is very rich in
terms of its cuisine.Liver kebab sold on
counters of the shops during the late hours of
the night known as cartlak kebab, is one of
the traditional meals of region.
Kibebumbar, the richest meal of Diyarbakır,
cooked by the mixture of tripe and intestine,
rice, peppermint, pepper and salt. Moreover
içli köfte, çiğ köfte, bulgur pilavı (kind of
rice), kaburga, keşkek, Kibuku, Lebeni are
meals of the region, while burma kadayıf and
Nuriye desert are the famous desserts of the
region. Dried layers of grape and grape
sausage, otlu cheese, örgü cheese, sumac are
other widely prefered meals.
Where to Buy
Handiworks, bracelet made of woven straw,
kiniş necklace, pattens and shelves
embroidered with silver are creations that are
likely to be bought from Jeweleries. Hand made
rugs and carpets are produced in villages.
Don't Leave Without
- Wandering around Diyarbakır Ramparts,
- Seeing Malabadi Bridge,
- Seeing Old Diyarbakır Houses
- Visiting Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Archeology
Museums,
- Eating kaburga meal at Selim Amca, drinking
root of liquorice plant,
- Buying Diyarbakır rush mat
Sites
Registered Immobile Cultural and Natural
Heritages in Diyarbakır
Sites
Archaeological Sites: 73
Urban Sites: 1
Natural Sites: 1
Historical Sites: -
Other Sites
Archaeological and Natural Sites: 2
Total: 77
Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and
Natural Heritages: 434
TOTAL: 511
Contact Information
OHAL Governorship : (+90-412) 228 63 00
Diyarbakır Governorship : (+90-412)224 74 87
Municipality : (+90-412)224 11 55
Hospital : (+90-412)228 54 30-34
Police : (+90-412) 248 83 55
Gendarme : (+90-412) 319 25 18
Provincial Directorate : (+90-412) 221 78 40
Tourism Information Office : (+90-412) 221 78
40 - 224 09 30
Provincial Culture Office : (+90-412) 221 00
99
Provincial Cultural Directorate
Tel: (412) 221 00 99
Fax: (412) 224 42 02
Diyarbakır State Classical Turkish Music Choir
Directorate
Address: Lise Cad. R. Ali Emiri Sok. Eski
T.M.O. Binası Zemin Kat Diyarbakır
Choir Tel: (0 412) 224 60 14 - 15
State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate
Dağkapı Burcu DİYARBAKIR
Tel: (0 412) 222 64 69
Fax: 244 42 02
Müze
Diyarbakır Museum
Address: Ziya Gökalp Bulvarı - Diyarbakır
Tel: (412) 221 27 55
Fax: (412) 223 08 02
Links
Diyarbakır Governorship http://www.ohal.gov.tr/
Diyarbakır Municipality http://www.diyarbakir-bld.gov.tr/
Dicle University http://www.dicle.edu.tr/
